"Always a pleasure": Sinner shares heartfelt message for Djokovic after straight-sets victory in Wimbledon semifinal
London, July 11
World No.1 Jannik Sinner shared a heartfelt message for Novak Djokovic after defeating the Serbian legend in the Wimbledon men's singles semifinal, expressing gratitude for the contest and excitement ahead of Sunday's title clash.
Taking to X after his straight-sets victory over the seven-time Wimbledon champion, Sinner praised Djokovic and thanked him for the match.
"Always a pleasure to share the court with you @DjokerNole. Thanks for a great match today. Honoured and grateful to be back in the final here at @Wimbledon. See you all on Sunday," Sinner wrote.
Sinner delivered an emphatic performance to defeat Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday and book his place in the Wimbledon men's singles finals for the second consecutive year.
The world No. 1 cruised to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the seven-time Wimbledon champion at the All England Club. Avenging his semi-final loss to Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this year--their only previous meeting in 2026--Sinner produced a composed and commanding display to seal the win in two hours and 20 minutes.
"Amazing [to be in the final again]... The atmosphere has been amazing since the first day and it means a lot to me that I can play one more final here," Sinner said in his on-court interview, as quoted by ATP website.
"It's the most special tournament we have, and it means a lot to me. Of course, playing against Novak and what he has been showing, it's a true inspiration. Not only for [the crowd] but also for the new generation. What he is still doing is amazing," he added.
Having defeated his great rival Carlos Alcaraz to earn his first Wimbledon title in 2025, Sinner will bid to complete a successful defence of his crown in Sunday's final against Alexander Zverev. Should he do so, Sinner and Alcaraz will have won 10 of the past 11 major titles, with Zverev's Roland Garros win last month the only outlier.
"We always have very tough matches, and the last one he won in the semis in Australia," Sinner said, when asked about his rivalry with the 39-year-old Djokovic, as quoted by ATP website. "So I tried to make a couple of adjustments, even though here on grass it is very difficult."
"He had a very tough match, the last one against Felix, which we will remember I think forever here in this arena. I tried to stay quite aggressive, serving very well which helped me a lot today. He's probably the best returner we have in our game, so I tried to mix it up. I'm very happy about today's performance," he added.
Djokovic remains level with Margaret Court on a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles and stays one Wimbledon crown behind Roger Federer, with seven titles at the All England Club.
The Serbian great will now turn his attention to the US Open later this summer in pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. However, there is no certainty that he will return to compete at Wimbledon next year.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm still rooting for Novak! Even at 39, he's playing at an elite level. And Sinner's message was so sweet—"always a pleasure" really sums up the respect these two share. Sportsmanship like this is why I love tennis. 🎾❤️
Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed with Djokovic's performance today. He looked off his game—too many unforced errors. But credit to Sinner, he was clinical. That straight-sets scoreline doesn't lie. Zverev vs Sinner final should be a cracker! 🏆
As a long-time tennis fan from the West, I've watched Djokovic dominate for years. It's bittersweet to see him lose, but the torch is being passed gracefully. Sinner's humility post-match is a breath of fresh air. Looking forward to the final!
Can we talk about how Sinner avenged his Australian Open loss? That must feel incredible! And his words about Djokovic being an "inspiration for the new generation" show real maturity. India could learn a lot from this kind of sportsmanship in our cricket matches too 😄
Sinner is proving he's the real deal. To beat Djokovic in straight sets at Wimbledon—especially after Novak's epic win over Felix earlier—is no small feat. The US Open will be interesting, but for now, all eyes on Sunday's final. Let's go Sinner!
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